Village Motors receives 25-year anniversary award from Ford
By Kelley Mohr
December 1, 2011
634
In 1903, Henry Ford started Ford Motor Company and changed how the world moved. More than 100 years later, Village Motors of Millersburg continues to do just that. On Wednesday, Nov. 30, the dealership received recognition from Ford for its commitment to a partnership that has lasted a quarter of a century.
Receiving the award on behalf of the whole dealership were co-owners Tom Green and Marc Miller.
Green and Miller were awarded a commemorative plaque, a lapel pin and a letter from Ford Motor Company in a ceremony presented by John Shuldt, regional sales manager for Ford, who said, What Im here for today is to present Tom, and really the whole dealership, with a plaque that recognizes them for 25 years of continuous family ownership.
While the award recognizes 25 years of service with Ford, Miller and Green have actually worked at Village Motors for much longer, with Miller logging 35 years and Green having 42 years under his belt. Marc and I are lifetime employees of Village Motors, said Green. Weve extended the legacy of Village Motors for another 25 years and were grateful to the Steimel family for what they began.
The pair bought the dealership from Dick and Ruth Steimel in 1987, beginning their personal service with Ford as a dealer. In that time, Miller and Green have seen many changes in the automotive industry.
Its been a long, rewarding journey, said Green as he recalled when a new car cost only $2,000. Weve continued to grow each and every year weve been in business.
Village Motors has grown with remodeling projects, additional real estate and expansion as the payroll grew from 19 employees to more than 70. They are dealers of Ford, Lincoln-Mercury, Chrysler, Plymouth, Dodge and Jeep. In addition to selling cars, the dealership provides service, bodywork and parts.
After so much success, Village Motors credits its employees with making it possible to reach that 25-year mark.
We realize that we wouldnt be where we are today without them, said Green. We try to operate as a family. They are so important to us, and theyve been with us for so long.
Such a work environment encourages the staff to become longtime employees, said Miller. We try to treat them right and we think they treat the customers right; its kind of our philosophy, to treat people right, he said, citing a Village Motors core value that customer satisfaction leads to customer loyalty.
That philosophy seems to be working, as customer loyalty has enabled Village Motors to stay in business these 25 years. For this, Miller and Green are thankful.
We have hundreds of customers who have been loyal to us, who come in and see us, who get their service work done and buy automobiles and were happy to provide that transportation, said Green.
This enduring mutual appreciation sets Village Motors apart from other dealerships. The Village Motors legacy started more than 25 years ago and will continue for much longer, said Green, who has high hopes for their future.
This will be a Ford dealership for many years. It will be a strong, thriving dealership with the right people in it, he said. The family legacy that weve had from the Steimels since 1952 is going to be passed on, its not just going to be a wholesale situation; its going to be passed on to the right person at the right time with community ties and family ties. And thats important for the longevity of any dealership.
The 25-year award from Ford will join a wall filled with plaques commemorating different milestones and accomplishments achieved by the people at Village Motors. This one is special, however, because it celebrates a legacy that Miller and Green hope to continue.
Weve won awards over the years, this one for surviving 25 years, said Green. A lot of dealerships sell or have gone out of business in the last few years, so its a nice memento that we made it to 25 years as a dealer. No surprise to us, though, we plan on being here for many more years.
